During 2017 campaigns, David Kariuki Ngari , Governor Ferdinand Waititu, his running mate James Nyoro became co-principals for the anti-Kabogo ‘United for Kiambu’ camp where they spent nights and days at Lilies Hotel laying strategies to oust Kabogo.
The leaders included Woman Rep Gathoni wa Muchomba, MPs Kimani Ichun’gwa (Kikuyu), Githua wa Machukuru (Kabete), Jonah Mburu (Lari), Jude Njomo (Kiambu Town), Kago wa Lydia (Githunguri), N’gan’ga King’ara (Ruiru) and Stephen Ndichu (Speaker).
Others in the team were Karungo wa Thang’wa who failed to clinch the senatorial seat, former Thika MP Alice N’gan’ga and 80 per cent of ward representatives.
Gakuyo spent heavily on advertisements to popularise Ekeza during Jubilee meetings that were aired live thereby enabling the United for Kiambu team sweep almost all seats in the county.
But he kept his faith as a ‘Man of God’ often leading his faithfuls to secluded areas within his ‘farms’ to fast and pray for riches and good health. This message was regularly emphasised every Sunday during sermons broadcast on eight television stations across the country and on the Internet.
As his following grew, Ekeza transferred monies received to Gakuyo Real Estate that were spent on buying large tracts of land and subdivided for resale to members as residential plots, an endeavour that proved popular with the masses.